Appropriate Pressure Care for Bedsores
Pressure care refers to the provision of proper care for people who are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers. A pressure ulcer is an area of skin that breaks down due to constant pressure. Pressure against your skin causes a reduction in blood supply, which often results to the death of the affected tissues. This often occurs when you stay in a single position for too long, such as when you are confined to a wheelchair or to your bed. Such situations are often the result of diseases or injury.
A pressure ulcer, also known as a pressure sore or a bedsore, typically starts as a patch of reddened skin that worsens over time. And when the patient fails to get appropriate pressure care, the irritated skin becomes a blister and then an open sore, until it finally becomes a crater. The bones that are close to your skin, like your heels, ankles, hips, elbows, back, shoulders, and the back of your head, are the ones that are most commonly affected by pressure sores. These sores are categorized according to their severity.
Stage I refers to a reddened area of the skin that does not turn white when pressed, indicating that a sore is just starting to develop. Stage II is characterized by skin blisters and open sores, with the area around the sore becoming red and irritated. When the condition reaches Stage III, the sore already looks like a crater and there is extensive damage to the tissues under the skin. Finally, Stage IV involves ulcers that are so deep that there is already some damage to the muscles and bones in the area, and sometimes even to the tendons and joints.
If, for whatever reason, you are bedridden, or if you have serious mobility problems due to mental disabilities or other medical conditions, you will need regularly pressure care from a healthcare professional or caregiver in order to prevent sores. After all, prevention is still a lot better than cure. Your caregiver will have to check your body for bedsores from head to toe and he should pay particular attention to the areas where these sores often occur. And regardless of whether such sores are present or not, a person caring for a bedridden patient must change the position of the patient at least every couple of hours so as to relieve pressure.
There are also a number of items and devices that can be used to help reduce the pressure on vulnerable parts of your body. These products include pillows, foam padding, and powders from medical supply stores. The patient also has to be given well-balanced meals that contain just enough calories to keep him healthy and encouraged to drink plenty of water throughout the day. And even bedridden people have to engage in daily exercise, particularly range-of-motion exercises. The caregiver should also keep the skin of the patient clean and dry at all times. Pressure care can also involve the application of creams recommended by your doctor to keep your skin healthy.
